UMSA Foundation Scholarship Program

Scholarship Sponsored by Upper Midwest Security Alliance Foundation

The UMSA Foundation launched its scholarship program in support of our continued efforts in interdisciplinary collaboration and education. Just as we are committed to supporting organizations and professionals in security and risk-related industries, so are we committed to providing support in education. Through this scholarship program, we aim to provide financial assistance as a way to build the leaders of our future and sustain our industries.

The scholarship program offers four (4) $3,000 scholarships and eight (8) $1,000 scholarships for undergraduate, graduate or continuing education programs in any of the following fields (applicants can apply in more than one field):

• Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery
• Cybersecurity
• Governance, Risk and Compliance
• Physical Security

The recipients of the 2025 UMSA scholarships will be notified in April 2025 and invited to receive recognition during the May 14-15, 2025 Secure360 Conference. Recipients may also be recognized at additional Secure360 events during 2025 as schedules permit.

Scholarship Eligibility

Applicants must be high school senior or enrolled in a college or university for undergraduate and graduate students, either in the current or upcoming calendar year, in any of the following four fields:

• Business continuity and disaster recovery
• Cybersecurity
• Governance, risk and compliance
• Physical security

Applicants must be a resident or attend school in the upper Midwest states:

• Iowa
• Minnesota
• North Dakota
• South Dakota
• Wisconsin

UMSA board members, UMSA Foundation and/or UMSA committee members, and immediate family of these individuals (where the immediate family is defined as spouse or child) are not eligible.

Individuals are allowed to receive two scholarships within a four-year period.

Selection Criteria

Scholarships will be selected for award based on the following criteria:

• Applicant’s ability to align with UMSA’s goals, mission and vision
• Quality of writing/essay response
• Personal goals and/or program of study relevant to at least one or more of the four fields mentioned above
• Phone interview, as determined by committee

Deadlines

2025 applications will open fall 2024!

All applications must be received online using the submission button above. The deadline to submit applications is February 2025. Upon initial review, the UMSA scholarship committee may invite finalists to a phone interview during the month of March.

2025 Winner Announcements and Awards

The recipients of the 2025 UMSA scholarships will be notified in April 2025 and invited to receive recognition during the May 2025 Secure360 Conference at which time they will receive their scholarship dollars. Recipients may also be recognized at additional UMSA communications during 2025 as schedules permit.